*The Brambleberry Cottage*: Flowers

Showing posts with label Flowers. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

A Spring Sonata

As I bid adieu to the last camellia blossoms of winter, another group of players enter the stage.

I am filled with childlike wonder, as I anticipate the most glorious symphony of floral magnificence about to be performed.

Slowly at first, bloom by brilliant bloom, each member of this ensemble emerges, playing its designated part, until the outside of the cottage is engulfed in color as radiant as the sun.

Though the daffodils merely introduce part one of this movement, they are, indeed, cheerful trumpeters in this spring sonata.

The fragrant hyacinths and tulips are instrumental to this particular composition...

and play in perfect harmony alongside the sweet violets...

and cheery periwinkle.

The tempo of this piece speeds up, as each of the fruit trees–in rapid succession–contributes its own lyrical beauty.

Not to be outdone by the serene chords of the dogwood blossoms...

or the vibratos of the irises.

Alas, though it seems that the beautiful music has just begun,

the finale is at hand

The dreamy sonata of this season is now reaching its conclusion.

And I must bid a sad farewell, until next year.

But, my sadness is abated as I observe a new ensemble of players taking their seats...

and another composition being prepared.

It is a masterful work I am quite familiar with.

I gladly welcome this introductory quartet to the cottage–roses, clematis and daisies.

And I now await the full gathering of the symphony of summer.

It is one I'm sure I will thoroughly enjoy–almost as much as the one before.

My floral mosaics are a perfect fit for Mary's Mosaic Monday

and Cielo's Show Off Your Cottage Monday.
I'm going to share all this outdoor loveliness at Susan's for Outdoor Wednesday.

My cottage flowers are worthy of show and tell at Cindy's place.

I'm also joining the fun at Tootsie's for Ferilizer Friday.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Where a Garden of Kindness Blooms-Part 1

Image Source: Marlith; GNU Free Documentation License

The little unremembered acts of kindness and love are the best parts of a person's life. ~ William Wordsworth

In the short span of time that I have been a blogger–forty-eight days to be exact–I have experienced abundant kindness...in both word and deed.

Image Source: R Neil Marshman; GNU Free Documentation License

Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end. ~ Scott Adams

Image Source: User:Erin Silversmith Dec 2005

Each act I've encountered has been a sweet, fragrant bloom presented from the vast garden of kindness here in the blogosphere.

Image Source: Mr Poortom; Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license

No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves. ~ Amelia Earhart

Image Source: Amanda, Jonathan & Hannes Grobe; Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license

Each of you has been a cherished contributor to the mosaic of beauty here at the Brambleberry Cottage–with your sweet comments and willingness to encourage and lend a helping hand.

I thank you all from the bottom of my heart!

xo,

Liz

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Fourteen Days of Love - Day 10 - Flower Power

There's lots of lovely pink prettiness in this post from the past. I think I'll share it at Beverly's Pink Saturday event.

Who doesn't love flowers? They are one sure way to win a girl's heart. Especially this girl's!

For me, almost any kind of flower will do. But those of the cottage variety are my favorites–roses, hollyhocks, delphiniums, etc. There is just something about their quaint beauty that always makes me smile.

When it comes to floral arrangements, I tend to prefer simplicity over fussiness–like the two simple roses I displayed with this vintage bride's basket.

And when you see flowers around the inside of my cottage–or on my porches–they will most likely be something I've gleaned from my own flower gardens, shrubs, or trees.

The large ornamental flowering cherry tree near my master bedroom porch is one of my favorite places from which to cut blooms. The profuse pink blossoms that cover it every spring provide weeks of fresh flowers to grace both the inside and outside of the cottage–like here on my front porch.

Now…all ye faux flower nay-sayers, look away–lest ye be offended!

I have no problem using silks and do so often–if they have a realistic appearance. Silks fill in quite well for the real deal during the colder months, when there is nothing in bloom around here.

I thought the pink silk roses looked great in my Valentine tablescape. And even the silks in this rusty metal basket–part of one of my tabletop vignettes–look pretty to me.

So…until my lovely cottage flowers have been coaxed from their winter slumber by the warmth of the spring sun–silks will suit me just fine! ; )

Either silk or real flowers would exude cottage sweetness in this adorable wire carrier and four clay pots. And...it just so happens to be today's addition to the giveaway!

And what about yesterday's prize you ask? Well, do you think you would enjoy a delicious cake...like this?

You can...along with ninety-nine others you can make from the recipes in this lovely cookbook!

Just can't wait for the treats to bake to get that chocolate fix (Donna)? I have just the remedy.

This "emergency chocolate" bar will accompany the cookbook, so you can satisfy your craving while you bake! ; )

Reminder: Please be sure to publish your

Valentine's post, before you link to the party. And

don't forget to mention the Brambleberry Cottage

in your post.

Remember to leave a comment to be entered in this

week's drawing for the giveaway!

1. Jenn Raley
2. Donna
3. Ann Creek
4. http://beansiebabbles.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-bloomin-red-post.html

5. http://sweetnothingsbj.blogspot.com/2010/02/precious-outdoor-photo.html
6. lululiz
7. Tammy

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Fourteen Days of Love - Day 3 - Pretty in Pink

We all know how popular this color is during the month of February,

but individual tastes determine whether it prevails in a home's décor all year long.

As I survey the cottage, I'm hard pressed to find much pink anywhere! My Yankee, being the man's man that he is, believes pink should be reserved for...little girls, flowers, and bubblegum.

Over the years, any cravings I've had for pink have been satisfied vicariously through my antiques and collectibles businesses.

I find something I really like, bring it home, display it for as long as the Yankee can tolerate it, and then–when he can stand it no more–I sell it.

For example…

When I bought this creamer and sugar pair, I thought I would be adding them to my personal collection.

I liked the way they looked perched atop my vintage pink cake stand–when entertaining friends over coffee.

And isn't this antique porcelain basket, with delicate pink roses, adorable?

Well…the stay here at the cottage for each of them was short lived!

This early 1900s lithograph–with its lovely Victorian lady and luscious pink roses–was totally captivating. Even the ravages of time had not detracted from her beauty.

But, I'm sorry to say…she has taken up

residence with someone else!

I did manage to keep these vintage dishcloths for awhile. Their cottagey-pink cuteness made me smile, each time I used them.

I had this Bavarian creamer and beautiful vintage plate for some time.

I thought of them as sweet, feminine additions to my china cabinet. I liked the way they introduced little splashes of color to
my white ironstone pieces.

They have since gone the way of eBay!

Remember this cute shabby table from my front porch? Gone!

But on the bright side…now I have a reason to redecorate my porch when the weather gets a little warmer! ; )

I do still have this pretty pink dish–with its romantic rococo scene. I like the way it teasingly peeks out of this vintage ironstone gravy boat displayed in my cabinet.

And I did get away with using a good deal of pink in my outdoor Valentine's tablescape. Remember seeing that serene setting here?

So, I suppose, until my beautiful cottage flowers start blooming in the spring, that pretty much sums up "pink" at the Brambleberry Cottage.

I can't wait for spring!

Then, I'll be able to sway gently in my hammock, admiring the gorgeous pink blossoms of my ornamental flowering cherry tree and dream of the delicate pink blooms of the impatiens I will once again plant.

Because, other than my flower garden,

there's only one place where the Yankee and I can always agree on pink…

on our precious granddaughter, Lana. She's always "pretty in pink"!

Now it's your turn to share your pink pretties–for decorating, crafting, collecting, gardening–or just something pink that warms your heart!

"Pretty in Pink" is a perfect post for Beverly's Pink Saturday Party at How Sweet the Sound. Let's go visit. Shall we?

When I was in Marshalls snapping up all those pictures

for the post here, this lovely bejeweled notepad caught my eye. I thought it would be terrific for Pretty in Pink day, as an addition to the giveaway this week.